The Penn's Grove record., 1887-02-26
COURTSHIPs OF BIRDS.
Naturalist Holders Very Interesting
Collection OF Facts.


In some OF the African tribes when
marriage is proposed by the dusky
lover the coy maiden puts him through
a course of physical sprouts that is
considered a test of his capabilities as
the protector and supporter of a family.
He appears before her and her friends
and goes through a series of ground
and lofty tumbling that would do
credit to a professional athlete-leaps
into the air, strides along to show his
walking powers, and throws his limbs
this way and that to show the develop
ment of muscles; finally, if he makes a
good exhibition, he is accepted, and
ever afterward the woman does all the
hard work, the groom having demon
strated however, that he car do 1t II
pushed to the wall.
Among the cranes especially, the
sandhill cranes, almost exactly the
same thing can be seen i'll the mating
season, and if any II can approach a
flock at this time they will be repaid by
a most remarkable slght-a veritable
bird circus. A relative of mine had a
large marsh upon his estate, and here
the great birds made their summer
home; building curious nests there and
rearing their young. The marsh was
surrounded by high grass, and it was
his practice to creep through and watch
the birds unobserved. The antics they
went through would be impossible to
describe-now they would caper along
in pairs, stepping dainty with the win
ming gait of the ideal exquisite, lifting
their feathers Or wings, taking short
steps and gradually working themselves
up to a bird frenzy of excitement,
when they would leap into the air and
over each others Backs, taking short
runs, this way and that, all for the edi-
fcat!on of the females standing by, and
finally, after a series of these exhibit
lions, the different birds selected their
mates.
Among the birds of the western
hemisphere the cock of the rock ranks
next to the crane in the strangeness OF
its evolutlons. The bird is confined to
South America and is about the size or
n small pigeon; has a bright orange
web in the male, with a plumellke ar
rangement on the head. 1t is a proud
bird, principally building its nest in
rocky places net ~frequented by a
at the commencement of the breeding
season q party of birds numbering from
ten to twenty, assemble, and selecting
a clear space among the rocks form a
ring or circle, facing inward. Now a
small bird takes its place in the centre
and begins to hop about, toss its head,
lift its wings and GO through all the
strange movements possible that appear
to be watched with great interest by
the rest. When the performer is thor
oughly exhausted lie Tetires to the cir
Gle and another bird enters the ring,
and so on, until all have been put
through their PAGES. when the pairs
probably make their selection. Often
the birds arc so exhausted after The
dances that they can hardly fly, lying
painting on the rocks.
In England the courtshlp Of the great
English bustard is a rare sight, the
magnificent creature performing most
of its love antics In the air, making
great swoops downward, almost touch
ing the ground, then rising aloft to
hover V e It's mate, uttering a peculiar
cry, then allghting and vying with the
turkey III its proud aspect. The great
Otis Bsngallensis struts about like a
peacock, humming the while in a Curl
ious series of notes, supposed to be the
dulcet tones addressed to the female
bird.
0sThe courtship of the humming bird
is a particularly arduous operation, the
lover having to fight his way to nuptial
life. Several species of these little gems
are common in my doorway and are
engaged in a continual warfare with
each other; often the engagement IS
carried on with such vigor that the
birds are injured. A friend near by
tells me that in observing these con-
tests she is positive that at times the
male when finding that he is being
worsted feigns death, and drops to the
ground, In fact, plays possum, to es.
cape, and carries it to such an extent
that she has gone out and picked the
bird up and brought it into the house,
where it 500 recovered.
There is one in South America known
as Florisuga mellivor that performs
some curious antics during the court
ship season. 1t resembles some gor-
geous insect IS it darts through the air,
Its head and neck being a beautiful
metallic b ne with a border of white,
other portions being a rich metallic
green. The tail, which is pure white,
can be expanded so as to form a semi
circle, and when IN the air with the
tail feathers outstretched 1t looks as
though 1t were resting on a twig, For
several moments the little creature will
remain literally suspended in the air
with this curious cross piece vibrating
IA singular mode of courtship.
In the water birds we find many cur
ious courtships, especially in the alba
tross, that is a most devoted lover and
mate. Even when the female Is on the
nest he will stand by, and go through
the most extravagant motions and
uttering curious shrieks, which sound
like laughter, in return for which the
female gently caresses him with her
bill. The nest of this bird resembles
that of some iamlngoes, being about
two feet In height and ten inches IN
diameter. the top falling owe the edges
50 that when deserted by the birds they
form convenient seats, and are so used
by sailors who hunt the bird to secure
the leg bones for pipe stems.
Near the borders of southern Cali
fornia is found a bird called the sunate
that has a strange courtship. 1t Is
about the size of a maybe. During the
mating season four OF five birds collect
together and seem to vie with each
other in the extravaganza ofthelr post
uring-wooing now In rows, now sin
gle, in a regular dance, and by way OF
music uttering loud, d~iscordant
squswks. Their long tails are lifted
high in the air during this perform
ance, and their entire behavior is re-
markable in the extreme. There Is
hardly a family of birds but what we
find has some such popularity, leading
to the conclusion that there are certain
traits that are very much alike In al
forms, from man downward.
Good company and good conversation
are the very sinews of virtue.
The foolish and the dead alone neYal